FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Two Israeli soldiers killed, airstrikes in Gaza, humanitarian aid halted, ceasefire on the verge of collapse
The fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered its most serious crisis since it came into effect on October 11, after two Israeli soldiers were killed on Sunday in the southern Gaza Strip, in the Rafah area.
The Israeli military accuses Hamas of violating the agreement by firing anti-tank grenades and sniper fire at its troops, using this as a reason for a "new wave of extensive air strikes" in several regions of the Palestinian enclave.
The dead were identified as Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21, the first Israeli casualties since the agreement came into effect. Three other soldiers were wounded. At least eight Palestinians were killed in Israeli shelling on Sunday, according to reports from hospitals and witnesses in Gaza.
Israeli forces say Hamas militants have fired beyond the “Yellow Line,” the area where Israeli troops have withdrawn under the agreement, in three separate incidents during the day. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet and ordered new strikes on “terrorist targets” and ordered an immediate suspension of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza “until further notice.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the decision, stating that "the war must resume as soon as possible" and that aid should not resume until Hamas disarms.
For its part, Hamas issued a statement saying it remained committed to the ceasefire across Gaza and denied any clashes with Israeli troops in Rafah. Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced that it had found the body of another Israeli hostage and would hand him over “if conditions on the ground permit.” But it also warned that any escalation in Israeli attacks would hinder operations to search for and hand over the bodies.
On the ground, the situation has been further exacerbated by internal clashes between Hamas and rival Israeli-backed groups, including the militia led by Yasser Abu Shabab. According to regional experts, these militias operate from protected areas under Israeli control and carry out rapid attacks and then withdraw, creating a heated climate of internal confrontation in Gaza.
Hamas says it has launched a "security campaign" against collaborators and internal criminals since the ceasefire began, which has led to violent incidents, including reports of public executions in city centers such as Gaza City.
Israel, on the other hand, accuses Hamas of delaying the return of the bodies of the dead hostages. Of the 28 bodies scheduled to be handed over under the agreement, Hamas has so far returned 12, who have been identified by Israeli authorities. According to the agreement, the handover of the bodies was one of the key conditions for the continuation of the ceasefire and the opening of the border for aid.
With the Rafah crossing closed and aid suspended, Gaza faces another humanitarian crisis. The United Nations had previously warned that parts of the territory were on the brink of famine, and the ceasefire had been seen as a glimmer of hope for the return of massive aid. But that light now appears to be fading.
Recent events have shaken the foundations of the agreement and revived fears of a return to a bloody and intractable war. With rhetoric rising on both sides and violence escalating, Gaza is once again on the brink of a full-blown outbreak.
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